Professor Josh Vura-Weis has been named one of six 2020-2021 Helen Corley Petit Scholars by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

This honor recognizes Vura-Weis for his outstanding work in femtosecond x-ray spectroscopy of transition metal catalysts, spin crossover materials, and photovoltaics. He and his lab focus on solving problems in energy, catalysis, and biology using advanced spectroscopic techniques such as tabletop X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy.

“These named scholars have been chosen for their energy, creativity, and potential in teaching and research in the College of LAS,” said Feng Sheng Hu, the Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of LAS. “They are incredible examples of the level of effort we apply to achieving academic excellence.”

Vura-Weis joined the Department of Chemistry faculty in 2013 after receiving his PhD in 2009 from Northwestern University and completing post-doctoral work at the University of California, Berkeley.